Love Your Enemies

27j "But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,28k "bless those who curse you, and l pray for those who spitefully use you.29m "To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. n And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either.30o "Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back.31p "And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise.

32q "But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.33"And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.34r "And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back.35"But s love your enemies, t do good, and u lend, 1 hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and v you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil.36w "Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.

Cross ReferencesExodus 23:4
If you meet your enemy's ox or his donkey going astray, you shall surely bring it back to him again.
Proverbs 25:21
If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.
Matthew 5:44
But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.
Romans 12:20
Therefore "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.

Cross ReferencesRomans 12:14
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.

Cross ReferencesLuke 23:24
So Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they requested.
Acts 7:60
Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, "Lord, do not charge them with this sin." And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

Cross ReferencesMatthew 5:39 - 42
But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.

Cross References1 Corinthians 6:7
Now therefore, it is already an utter failure for you that you go to law against one another. Why do you not rather accept wrong? Why do you not rather let yourselves be cheated?

Cross ReferencesDeuteronomy 15:7
If there is among you a poor man of your brethren, within any of the gates in your land which the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart nor shut your hand from your poor brother.
Deuteronomy 15:8
But you shall open your hand wide to him and willingly lend him sufficient for his need, whatever he needs.
Proverbs 3:27
Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, When it is in the power of your hand to do so.
Proverbs 21:26
He covets greedily all day long, But the righteous gives and does not spare.
Matthew 5:42
Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.

Cross ReferencesMatthew 7:12
Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

Cross ReferencesMatthew 5:46
For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?

Cross ReferencesMatthew 5:42
Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.

Cross ReferencesRomans 13:10
Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

Cross ReferencesHebrews 13:16
But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

Cross ReferencesLeviticus 25:35 - 37
If one of your brethren becomes poor, and falls into poverty among you, then you shall help him, like a stranger or a sojourner, that he may live with you.
Psalms 37:26
He is ever merciful, and lends; And his descendants are blessed.

Cross ReferencesMatthew 5:46
For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?

Cross ReferencesMatthew 5:48
Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.
Ephesians 4:32
And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.